John Stanko

The second ministry standard I had for myself and my team is:

2. RESPONSIVE — It's important that we become “quick responders.” There's nothing our senior pastor dislikes more than to hear that one of us did not respond to a request, a new volunteer, or a cry for help. When the cry for help or assistance comes, we need to interrupt what we are doing to heed the call.

In Mark 5:21-34, we see two instances of Jesus responding immediately. First, there was a man named Jairus whose daughter was dying.  Jesus left immediately to go to his house. Finding her dead, he raised her back to life. Before he got to the daughter, however, there was the woman who was healed immediately when she touched the hem of His garment. Jesus told her to go in peace and be freed from her suffering. He did not make her wait until He was finished with His other task; He ministered to her need there on the spot. Though we usually can't heal or resurrect like Jesus did, we can respond to the needs that confront us regularly. When we say we are going to do something, we keep our word. When there are needs, we respond. Our responsiveness may decide whether or not an individual or family puts their trust in God and His people.